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By: Roger Clarkson on September 16, 2008 - 5:11pm - Add new comment
Kelin Johnson made a visit to Tuesdayâ€™s press conferences. Heâ€™s back in Athens after a training camp stint with the Seattle Seahawks.
Although Johnson is in Athens now, he doesnâ€™t want to be here long. Heâ€™s waiting with a phone in hand for a ring from an NFL team.
â€œIâ€™m here to try to finish my degree so Iâ€™ll have that,â€ Johnson said. â€œIâ€™m really, really close. But if I get that call, Iâ€™m gone.â€
Johnson signed a free agent contract with the Seahawks and was among the last cuts before the season. He hopes that as the season moves forward and the injuries mount, teams will start looking for fresh bodies.
Johnson made a name for himself at Georgia as a special teams player and the NFL always needs guys like that. So itâ€™s likely that Johnson will get his call.

By: Roger Clarkson on September 18, 2008 - 5:24pm - Add new comment
One thing that might need watching on Saturday is how many flags fly out of officialsâ€™ pockets.
Dennis Ericksonâ€™s teams have historically played fast and loose, often daring referees to call penalties and pulling away opponentsâ€™ concentration. Miami specialized in the 15-yard lack-of-discipline penalties that can give teams a bad name. Georgiaâ€™s challenge might be keep its minds on the game and not drift into physical or verbal macho duels.
When Erickson was at Miami, the Hurricanes were at their trash-talking worst and he never did much to curb their enthusiasm for yellow handkerchiefs.
Miamiâ€™s game against Texas in the 1991 Cotton Bowl was on-field discipline at its worst under Ericksonâ€™s watch. Miami accumulated a bowl-record 16 penalties for 202 yards. It converted a first-and-40 on its initial drive and blasted the Longhorns 46-3.

By: Roger Clarkson on September 23, 2008 - 4:08pm - Add new comment
Mark Richt and Nick Saban must have a common joke writer. They used the same quip about their shirts about 24 hours apart on opposite sides of the border
Georgia announced on Sunday that it would black out Saturdayâ€™s game against Alabama. On Monday an Alabama writer noted that Saban wore a black Alabama golf shirt to his press conference. On Tuesday Richt wore a red Georgia golf shirt instead of getting into the blackout spirit. Their responses were nearly identical.
â€œIt was the only thing I could find at the house this morning.â€
The pre-game hype has already started. But you canâ€™t tell by the press conferences. Both teams kept their answers guarded. They praised the opposition and if held their criticism vague enough to mean anything. It will be hard for anybody to find bulletin-board material.

By: Roger Clarkson on September 25, 2008 - 5:25pm - Add new comment
When a Supreme Court justice attends a game, expect an epic decision.
Georgia received a visit from United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas prior to Thursdayâ€™s workouts. Thomas addressed the team before practice and will attend Saturdayâ€™s game against Alabama.
Thomas is a native of the Savannah area and is a longtime Georgia fan. Several Georgia players, including Jeff Owens, met him during a visit to Washington D.C. in 2007 and urged him to attend a game.
Thomasâ€™ presence confirms the national appeal of Saturdayâ€™s top-10 matchup between Georgia and Alabama. It probably wonâ€™t have the same impact as Richard Nixon going to see Texas and Arkansas in 1969. Thomas probably wonâ€™t pronounce Saturdayâ€™s winner the national champion like Nixon did.

By: Roger Clarkson on October 3, 2008 - 2:00pm - Add new comment
The Banner-Herald has a story on Georgia recruit Abry Jones coming out on Sunday. So I spent some time in Warner Robins talking to some of the folks at Northside High School.
Jones attended last Saturdayâ€™s â€œblackoutâ€ game against Alabama. Like most other observers, he was shocked at what happened in the first half. But he liked the way Georgia rebounded in the second half and the game shouldnâ€™t have any impact on his verbal commitment.
You can count Jones in as somebody who doesnâ€™t want to see the â€œblackoutâ€ go away because of what happened against Alabama.
â€œIâ€™d really like to get to wear one of those black jerseys when itâ€™s my time,â€ Jones said.
Jones is only in his fourth season of playing organized football which makes his progression quite an accomplishment. He also has a strong interest in history and is a thoughtful young man. He plays defensive end but is projected as a defensive tackle at Georgia.

By: Roger Clarkson on October 9, 2008 - 5:12pm - Add new comment
Mark Richt does not have full control over Georgiaâ€™s schedule and pointed out that difference between himself and a couple of college coaching legends during Thursdayâ€™s press conference.
Richt was asked about Georgiaâ€™s high strength of schedule not only this season but next season as well. Georgia plays Oklahoma State from the Big 12 and Arizona State from the Pac-10.
â€œI donâ€™t think Barry Switzer would have done that, or Bear Bryant or one of those guys who figured out how to win a whole lot of games every year,â€ Richt said. â€œBut I think they were in full control of their schedules too.â€
Richt places parameters on what kind of non-conference teams Georgia plays and tries to protect open dates before SEC East opponents. But the athletic department handles the specifics. Georgia always plays Georgia Tech from the ACC so that game is treated like a conference game.

By: Roger Clarkson on October 15, 2008 - 3:56pm - Add new comment
Vanderbilt comes to Sanford Stadium this week but this isnâ€™t the same Vanderbilt thatâ€™s been the SECâ€™s perpetual punching bag. The Commodores are ranked No. 22 and currently lead the SEC East by a half of a game.
In seasons past, Georgia might have been able to use Vanderbilt as a tune-up leading into back-to-back games against LSU and Florida. But this Georgia team canâ€™t do that. Not only does Georgia have real issues at offensive line and scoring touchdowns, but Vanderbilt is a team perfectly capable of beating the Bulldogs without flukes.
Vanderbilt trailed in all five of its wins, including victories against Auburn and South Carolina which were ranked at the time. Vanderbiltâ€™s defense has proven adept at forcing big plays. The Commodores lead the league in sacks (20) and are tied for the lead in interceptions (11).

By: Roger Clarkson on October 16, 2008 - 4:42pm - Add new comment
When Georgia opens preseason basketball practice on Friday, all eyes will be on Zac Swansey and Dustin Ware. Theyâ€™ve got the difficult task of filling out Sundiata Gainesâ€™ position at point guard.
Of all the guys Dennis Felton lost off of the 2008 SEC Tournament championship team, Gaines will be by far the hardest to replace. Gaines was a singular talent who could fill out a stat sheet like nobody else in the history of Bulldog basketball. He led the team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals and Felton might not coach another guy like that the rest of his career.
Gaines has continued his career in Europe and is plays for NGC Cantu (also known as Pallacanestro Cantu) in Italyâ€™s Serie A. Gaines started, played 33 minutes and tied for a team-high 10 points in NGCâ€™s 96-61 season-opening loss to Montepaschi Siena last Sunday.

By: Roger Clarkson on November 3, 2008 - 9:16pm - Add new comment
Dennis Felton probably doesnâ€™t get enough credit for maintaining good relations with the Georgia fans. Felton and the Bulldogs held an open practice on Monday that drew about 200. The crowd might have been sparse compared to a basketball factory like Kentucky. But people arenâ€™t used to things like that around here and it might take a while to catch on.
The best thing about Mondayâ€™s open practice was the number of children in the stands. If Felton had held Midnight Madness like many of his peers, most of those kids would have been at home in bed.
Mondayâ€™s practice started at 6 p.m. Felton wore a microphone while he was on the court. The fans could hear him instructing the players. The microphone gave some nice insight as to how coaches teach.
Travis Leslie abused Dustin Ware twice on baseline drives for dunks. In Wareâ€™s defense, Leslie is five inches taller, 20 pounds heavier and can jump through the rafters. But that didnâ€™t matter to Felton.

By: Roger Clarkson on November 26, 2008 - 1:22pm - Add new comment
The preseason NIT consolation tournament has come and gone and Georgia got some good news as Trey Thompkins played and made an immediate impact. Georgia shot and handled the ball with more efficiency than any previous game. The defensive job Georgia did on Santa Clara looked much more impressive after watching the Broncos carve up Arizona on Tuesday. Georgia blew out an inferior opponent from the beginning in Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday, something it had not done against South Carolina-Upstate or Presbyterian.
Whether or not Thompkins is a difference maker for Georgia has yet to be seen. But he definitely helps. He has the best-looking shot of anybody on the team, even though his legs are somewhat rubbery after sitting with injuries most of the last three months. He showed a knack for finding rebounds and defensive timing to block shots. He didnâ€™t force too much and looked for open shooters when the defense collapsed. All in all, it was a strong debut for Thompkins.